Preparation of cadavers for burial



Feb. 25, 1941. c. P. MCJODY 2,232,863

PREPARATION OF CADAVERS FOR BURIAL Original Filed May 15, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEOriginal application May 15, 1940, Serial No.

335,357. Divided and this application November 23, 1940, Serial No.366,826

9 Claims.

My invention relates to an apparatus for aspirating fluid-holdingportions of the cadaver, such as the cavities and the venous system,wherein the vacuum or suction on the blood jar and vein tube or trocaris automatically periodically interrupted or weakened by the admissionof small quantities of air at atmospheric pressure thereto, whereby aregurgitation takes place which causes matter tending to clog the trocaror vein tube to be cleared therefrom or broken up so that it will becarried thru to the blood jar or some other means of disposition, andwhereby the suction is divided into pronounced surges of suctionseparated by periods of non-suction or weaker suction, which periodsallow for the recovery of the veins so that they may be continuallyaspirated without collapsing them.

This application is a division of my application for a Method ofpreparing a cadaver for burial, filed May 15, 1940, Ser. No. 335,357.

The principal objective of my invention is to do a better job ofembalming.

Another objective is to be able to accomplish this with the equipment athand in every establishment for the preparation of cadavers for burial,that is, by being able to use ordinary trocars and vein tubes.

Another objective is the aspiration of the venous system of the cadaver.

Another objective is the aspiration of the venous system withoutcollapsing the veins thereof in the majority of cases.

Another objective is to be able to aspirate said venous system withouthaving to remove the vein tube, after it is once inserted in the veinand tied in, because of clogging, excepting possibly clogging because ofnon-yieldable matter in the blood stream such as is due to thrombosis inwhich the thrombus is usually too hard and too tough to be broken up, ortoo large to pass thru the vein tube.

Another objective is to be able to aspirate the cavities of the cadaverwithout having to remove the trocar therefrom because of clogging whichoccurs in a majority of cases.

Another objective is to be able to clear either the vein tube or trocarautomatically of yieldable obstruction-that is, without the attention ofthe operator or the manipulation of devices by him.

A further objective is to provide a continuous aspiration apparatuswhich may be used in conjunction with the so-called constant-pressureequipment now in general use which provides a blood jar upon which aconstant vacuum or suction is maintained by said equipment.

Other objectives and advantages will come to light as I proceed with thedetailed description of my invention which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

Fig. 1, of said drawings, is a plan view; Fig. 2 is a section on 2-2 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation;and Fig. 5 shows a different valve-operating mechamsm.

Thruout the drawings and specification similar numerals refer to similarparts.

In a co-pending application, Ser. No. 308,681, I have set forth a methodand apparatus for aspirating the venous system wherein a means such as areciprocating pump is used to provide pronounced surges of suction, withintervals of non-suction therebetween, on the venous system.

In a patent to Alfred M. Peterson, No. 2,097,039,

is described and shown a means to clear a trocar that has becomeclogged.

The application and patent, supra, are the nuclei of the improvementsset forth in this application.

The trocar of Peterson works fine in aspirating cavities. While sodoing, the operator is manually moving the trocar about in the cavity,and so having it in his hand, he may readily trip the valve to free thetrocar of an obstruction. When the vein tube is once inserted it is notmoved about as is the trocar, hence it becomes necessary for theoperator to constantly watch the flow of blood so thathe may remove thetube should it become clogged. If the trocar of Peterson was adapted tobe used as a vein tube it would still be necessary for the operator togive constant attention so that he could trip the valve should thedevice become clogged. It is very undesirable for an operator to have tostand and constantly watch the device for the hour and one-half or morethat it usually takes to prepare a case. That hour and one-half may bebetter employed.

In the device set forth in my application, Ser. No. 308,681, I haveprovided means which permit the vein tube to be inserted and tied intothe venous system and the artery tube to be inserted and tied into thearterial system of the cadaver. This device provides the spaced surgesof suction as well as pressure. It also provides the means forautomatically periodically tripping the valve to admit air to the veintube or trocar. I have developed and used such a means.

. ment of the terminals 8 and I3.

However, this requires a special trocar and a special vein tube. Thedevice of this present application requires no special trocar, nospecial vein tube, and no special means for providing the vacuumperiodically. In other words, any of the trocars or vein tubes now inuse may still be employed with the present device. I may use myreciprocating pump to provide the vacuum, I may use a water-operatedaspirator, in fact, I may use any of the constant-pressure means now inuse, as taught by Dwyer, Grontkowski, 2,118,704, and others.

While I have used the rubber top provided for blood jars upon which tomount my device, I believe that a top made of some light stiff materialsuch as aluminum or Bakelite is better. I have shown such a top on theblood jar 2 and a sealing ring 3 made of some soft material, as a rubbercompound, positioned between the top of the cap and the top of the jar.Whatever type of cap is used it should be airtight. The blood jar capforms a convenient means on which to mount my device but withoutillustration it is readily apparent that the unit may be detached or itmay be mounted on the vein tube or trocar.

For the vacuum breaker or interrupter 4, I have found that any of thosein commercial use as oscillatory wind shield wiper operators aresuitable for use in my device. In this specification I do not believethat this device need be specifically described or shown except as itmay be changed, altered, or arranged for the purpose employed.

The blood jar 2 is preferably made of glass so that the results of theoperation of the device may be always in view. The device 4 is securedto the top of the cap I by the screws 5. The usual swipe is removed andin its place upon the oscillating shaft 6 is mounted the arm 1 into thetop of which is screw-threaded a ballheaded terminal 8. A cross 9, whichserves as a valve-containing means, is positioned above the terminal 8and is supported by the plate l0, thru which the bottom portion ll ofthe vertical run of the cross projects, secured to the top of the device4 by the screws l2. From this bottom portion or leg H is extended aball-headed portion or terminal l3 formed on the end of the valve steml4. This valve stem I4 is slidable in the bearing l5 in the bushing IBwhose upper end is formed as a seat against which the annular enlargedportion |4A of the valve stem l4 may be seated.' This bushing I6 iscounterbored to form an annular chamber l8 about said valve stem l4whereby air. at atmospheric pressure may enter'thru the passage or inletl9 and flow thru the valve 29, formed by the enlarged portion MA and itsseat H, to the blood jar 2 and to the vein tube (not shown). The upperend MB of the valve stem is slidable in the bearing 2| formed bycounterboring the bottom of the plug 22 screw-threaded into the upperleg 23 of the vertical run of the cross 9. This plug 22 is turned downto form an annular chamber 24 about its lower portion. This chamber 24is connected with the counterbored bearing 2| by the passage 25 so thatair entrapped in said bearing may escape and not impede the freemovement of said valve stem as it is raised by operative engage- Betweenthe enlarged portion |4A and'the bottom of the plug 22 is positioned acoil compression spring 26 to insure the return of said portion to itsseat I! when the terminals are out of operative contact. The leg 21 ofthe horizontal run of the cross 9 is provided with a plug 28screw-threaded therein to seal said leg. The opposite leg 29 isconnected to the leg 30 of the horizontal run of the T 3| by the nipple32. The branch 33 of this T 3| is connected to the blood jar 2 by thenipple 34 which extends a short distance into the interior of the bloodjar and is tightly fixed in the cap I to be airtight therein and toserve as a support for the T 3|. The opposite leg 35 of the horizontalrun of the T 3| is provided with a tube end 36 over which is slipped theend of a rubber tube 31 on the other end of which is the vein tube A, ortrocar, the vein tube being shown.

The device 4 is operated by the vacuum maintained in the blood jar 2.Its valve apparatus 4A (not shown in detail) is connected to the sourceof vacuum. In the instant case, this valve apparatus 4A is connected bythe rubber tube 38 to the leg 39 of the horizontal run of the T 40 whosebranch 4| is connected to the leg 42 of the vertical run of the T 43 bythe nipple 44. The opposite leg 45 of said run of the T 43 is connectedto the blood jar 2 by the nipple 46 which extends a short distance intothe interior of the jar and is tightly fixed in the cap I to be airtighttherein and to serve as a support for the T 43. The branch of said T 43is provided with a tube end 41 over which is slipped the end of therubber tube 48 whose other endis connected to the pump B or other meansfor providing the vacuum, no detailed means being shown. The leg 49 ofthe horizontal run of the T 40 is provided with a bushing 50screw-threaded for the reception of the shank 5| of a needle valve 52adapted to be advanced to throttle the admission of air to the valveapparatus 4A by turning the handle portion 53 on the end of said shank5| exterior of said T 40, whereby the speed of the valve apparatus 4Aand incidently the oscillation of the arm I may be regulated as desired.I find a speed of approximately 20 complete oscillations of the arm I tobe satisfactory in practice. In other words, the vacuum is interruptedor weakened approximately 40 times per minute. I find that the airadmission interval best suited to be short and fast so that the joltsare quick and pronounced. Although suction on the jar may be constant itis broken up into. pronounced surges of suction separated by intervalsof reduced or weakened suction therebetween, which action, as disclosedin my co-pending application Ser. No. 308,681, permits of the venoussystem being aspirated without collapsing the veins, whereby I have beenable to aspirate approximately 95% of the blood, thus permitting a morecomplete distribution of the embalming fluid which makes for a betterjob. At the same time that this vacuum is being interrupted, the veintube, or trocar, is being cleared of any obstruction. In addition to theway air must be admitted, just the right amount must be admitted. Thismay be regulated to the machine or the implements employed by it byadjusting the terminal 8.

Commercial vacuum-operated oscillators as the device 4 take many formsand hence many arrangements of parts may be effected Without departingfrom the basic idea. Other means, such as mechanical and electricaldrives may be used to either rotate or oscillate the arm 1. However, Ibelieve the vacuum drive to be the best and most easily regulated toconditions. It requires no outside sources of power for operation orequipment that is in the way.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a gear 54, which may be spring-operated as inany clock mechanism,

driving the pinion 55 on the shaft 56 on which the arm 1 is mounted forrotation.

As is Well known to all versed in the art, steam, water, or air, may beutilized to effect a suction which would be similar to that effected bya rotary or gear pump or compressor, or in other words a steady suctionas distinguished from the suction produced by my reciprocating pump.

In the preferred form of my invention which I have illustrated, theblood jar is in the suction line. This would not be necessary if anaspirator is employed for the suction means since the blood does notpass thru parts that might be clogged or not easily cleaned. It is to benoted that the blood does not pass thru, nor can it get into, the valvesor other moving parts of my device.

n view of the foregoing, I do not limit my invention to the specificforms shown or described but extend it to all that come fairly withinthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for imposing a sub-atmospheric pressure on fluid-holding portionsof the cadaver to cause a column of fluid to flow therefrom, and meansto automatically periodically admit air at a greater pressure to saidcolumn to cause a regurgitation in the flow thereof whereby to aid inbreaking up yieldable matter therein which may obstruct said flow.

2. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination, aconstant-suction means for imposing a sub-atmospheric pressure onfluid-holding portions of the cadaver to cause a column of fluid to flowtherefrom, and means to automatically periodically admit air at agreater pressure to said column to cause a regurgitation in the flowthereof whereby to aid in breaking up yieldable matter therein which mayobstruct said flow.

3. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for imposing a sub-atmospheric pressure on fluid-holding portionsof the cadaver to cause a column of fluid to flow therefrom, and meansto automatically periodically admit air at a greater pressure to saidcolumn to cause a regurgitation in the flow thereof whereby to aid inbreaking up yieldable matter therein which may obstruct said flow, saidair admission means being positioned out of line with the movement ofsaid fluid column.

4. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for imposing a sub-atmospheric pressure on fluid-holding portionsof the cadaver to cause a column of fluid to flow therefrom, means toautomatically periodically admit air at a greater pressure to the columnto cause a regurgitation in the flow thereof whereby to aid in breakingup yieldable matter therein which may obstruct said flow, and means toregulate the amount of air admitted.

5. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for imposing a sub-atmospheric pressure on fluid-holding portionsof the cadaver to cause a column of fluid to flow therefrom, means toautomatically periodicallp admit air at a greater pressure to saidcolumn to cause a regurgitation in the flow thereof whereby to aid inbreaking up yieldable matter therein which may obstruct said flow, andmeans to regulate the speed at which air is admitted.

6. In an apparatus for'preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for imposing a sub-atmospheric pressure on the venous system ofthe cadaver to cause a column of fluid to flow therefrom, and means toautomatically periodically admit air at a greater pressure to saidcolumn to cause a momentary regurgitation in the flow thereof whereby toaid in preventing collapse in said venous system and in breaking upyieldable matter therein which may obstruct said flow.

7. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for imposing a subatmospheric pressure on fiuid-holding portionsof the cadaver to cause a column of fluid to flow therefrom, means tocause a regurgitation in the flow comprising an air inlet, a valve, andmeans to automatically periodically operate the valve to admit air at agreater pressure to the fluid column to effect said regurgitationwhereby to aid in breaking up yieldable matter therein which mayobstruct said flow.

8. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for providing a partial vacuum and imposing a sub-atmosphericpressure on fluid-holding portions of the cadaver to cause a column offluid to flow therefrom, and means to cause a regurgitation in the flowcomprising an air inlet, a valve, and means operable by the partialvacuum to automaticaly periodicaly operate the valve to admit air at agreater pressure to the fluid column to effect said regurgitationwhereby to aid in breaking up yieldable matter therein which mayobstruct said flow.

9. In an apparatus for preparing a cadaver for burial, in combination,means for providing a partial vacuum and imposing a sub-atmosphericpressure on fluid-holding portions of the cadaver to cause a column offluid to flow therefrom, means to cause a regurgitation in the flowcomprising an air inlet, a valve, and an oscillating arm operable by thepartial vacuum to automatically periodically operate the valve to admitair at a greater pressure to the fluid column to effect saidregurgitation whereby to aid in breaking up yieldable matter thereinwhich may obstruct said flow, means to regulate the amount of airadmitted, and means to regulate the speed at which it is admitted.

CLAY P. MOODY.

